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Think green this Christmas
With Christmas just around the corner it's time to start thinking about those all-important presents again. Whether you dread the idea of finding the right gift for your mother, or spend all year choosing presents for your nearest and dearest, try to think green this festive season. A huge amount of waste is generated at Christmas, rubbish trucks carry out extra collections, and according to Repak an additional 82,000 tonnes of packaging waste is created. Cutting down on waste, and considering the impact Christmas has on the environment can help create a better place to live and ease the financial burden on ourselves and others.
More choice
With so much choice for environmentally friendly and green products it's hard not to find the right gift for anyone. Due to demand many products on the market now focus on being good value and ethical. It's also possible to purchase quality sustainable alternatives to main stream technologies.
Solar powered gadgets are becoming a very popular choice, especially among the adventurer and busy commuter. The most popular is the solar powered gadget charger, which you can use to power most portable electronics like your ipod, mobile, or laptop. As well as using solar energy to dispel the fear of running out of power, you can also avail of products such as solar radio's and torches.
Wind up power is a more traditional source of renewable energy that will be familiar to most. Beginning with wind up watches, the technology has developed to now incorporate media players. The latest (Eco media player) will provide you with forty minutes continuous play from one minute of winding. Also incorporating clocks, torches and charging devices, this source of energy relies on nothing but human power.
Spirit of Christmas
Making your own presents has to be the ultimate green gift. It's a great way to be creative, and environmentally friendly; from the old fashioned decorated jars, and flower pots to producing your own preserves and spreads. Why not try making pesto with home grown basil, or jam with garden fruit in your own customised jars. This will definitely impress your family, and be a great conversation point at the dinner table.
Fresh fruit and food hampers are also a great way to reduce costs at Christmas, by giving them to someone as a present, and then using them to produce tasty Christmas meals. Either home grown or store bought, you cannot get a more natural gift.
Considering charities and others at Christmas time is important. What could be better than giving a present to someone that could benefit others? Oxfam, and Bothar both have Christmas campaigns where you can give your loved one the gift of having helped someone less needy. Through their gift of a cow programme, or clean water for children, the essence of Christmas is secured with the gift of giving.
Make your own
Children have always been very creative at special occasions. Encourage them to paint pictures for relatives, or have 'make and do' sessions to create fun and innovative presents. Papier Mache decorated balloons, pottery figurines, or fimo jewellery are all possibilities. A trip to an art supply store can be inspirational for an array of materials, and craft books.
Vouchers are popular at Christmas, either because someone doesn't know what to get, or to allow the person to choose for themselves. This year why not give someone a voucher for something they would like, and still stay green. Vouchers for acupuncture, shiatsu, massage, and reiki sessions are readily available from most therapists. Or for something different why not contact your local organic box collection, and give someone the gift of a trial for a weekly delivery.
Books are a great way to impart knowledge to your loved ones and printed on recycled paper is a bonus. There are lots of good books available on organic farming, self-sufficient living, environmentalism and green politics from your local bookstore. Think about using this opportunity to inform, and teach those around you.
It's a wrap
Decorating the Christmas tree can even be considered a chance to provide someone with a green present as, in some cultures, giving a gift for the tree is a tradition. If you choose to partake in this activity consider making your own gift. You could use recycled papers and materials, or make some sweet goodies, like chocolate shaped Santa's, or shortbread snowmen.
Rather than buying an impersonal greeting card, get creative and make your own Christmas cards this year. All you need are colourful pens, and paper. It's a more thoughtful and personal way to tell your loved ones how special they are, and how much you love them.
If all the wrapping paper used this year was laid out side by side it would cover an area of 89 x 89 kilometers, which is enough to cover half the size of Leinster, so try to avoid it. Think about all the paper products that pass through your home every day and how you can reuse them. Use colorful magazines, newspapers, and packaging this year or be innovative and use cut up milk cartons to conceal your delicate presents.
Whatever you choose this Christmas, be it home grown or store bought cards and presents, think before you buy. At a time of the year when people are either knee deep in greed, or suffering from the pressures of poverty think twice, and remember a green alternative is a more thoughtful gift.
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